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He nodded. "Benjamin is very successful in what he does."
Jewell struggled to find a connection in his line of conversation. "Yes, he is."
The man examined his pipe and his forehead furrowed in thought. "He did it all on his own. From day one. Never got an ounce of support from Jon. I'm ashamed of all the years I stood by and let it happen." He looked at her and Jewell saw sadness in his eyes. "I didn't want to, but I didn't have much say or influence in the matter. It's about time someone came along to give Benjamin what he needs."
Jewell sighed and sat forward. "Can I ask you something, Mr. Prescott?"
"Of course."
"You aren't the first person in Benjamin's family who has told me he needs love and support and just plain someone. I've been told things about his childhood—not from him—that makes me want to cry. Why is it if everyone knows he needs this, Benjamin had to wait until he was thirty-six years old and hired me as his executive assistant before he got it? I don't mean to sound judgmental, but I don't understand."
He nodded. "You're a very perceptive young woman, Jewell. I think if you were to choose one word to describe this family, that word would be denial. Deny the pain and it won't hurt. Deny the problem and it'll go away. Better yet, someone else will come along and fix it for you."
The door opened again and Benjamin came into the room. "I found some bagels, muffins, fruit, and juice. Do you want some coffee? I brought that, too." He set an overflowing tray of food down on the table.
Jewell looked up and smiled. "Thank you. I was just having a nice talk with your godfather."
Benjamin turned and saw Mr. Prescott for the first time. He nodded in greeting. "Ben. How is Abigail? Last I heard from her, she was about to graduate from Emerson College."
Ben Prescott nodded. "She's upset over Victoria, of course. We all are. But other than that, she's well. I'll tell her you asked about her. Abigail always looked up to you."
Jewell looked into Prescott's face. She thought she heard a slight waver in his voice when he spoke of Abigail. Just from the drift of the conversation, Jewell assumed Abigail might be Prescott's daughter, and probably several years younger than Benjamin.
Benjamin nodded. The small talk ended and an uncomfortable silence settled into the room. In Benjamin's face, there was little expression, but the other man's features struggled to hide a wealth of emotion. Prescott pressed his lips together and he finally looked away. That was the extent of the conversation between the two men and Benjamin sat down across from her. Within moments the older man stood and left the room. Jewell watched him go, then turned her attention back to Benjamin.
"Everything looks delicious. I'm starving."
Benjamin set a steaming cup of coffee in front of her along with a gigantic blueberry muffin. Jewell took a small cup of melons and strawberries from the tray. After taking several bites of each, she realized Benjamin wasn't eating. Self-conscious, Jewell set her fork down.
"You aren't eating?"
Benjamin lifted his cup of coffee. "This is enough for me. I'm not hungry."
Jewell pushed aside the remains of the muffin. "You said you wanted to talk to me about something."
Benjamin held her gaze and his eyes seemed to grow darker in intensity. A small ‘V’ formed above the bridge of his nose. He reached across the table and took her hand. His thumb rubbed in a gentle caress across Jewell's skin. But Benjamin didn't speak, didn't sign. It was a strange silence. The silence of anticipation. A quivering tension fluttered in her stomach.
"Benjamin, what's wrong?"
He stood abruptly and brought her to her feet. Before Jewell could react or wonder what he was doing, Benjamin pulled her into a firm embrace. His lips covered hers as his fingers tilted her head back to deepen the kiss. Without a moment's thought to resist him, Jewell returned fully every ounce he gave. The kiss surprised her, but the tumbling butterflies in her stomach rewarded her shock.
Their lips parted, but Benjamin didn't loosen his hold. Jewell tilted her head to look up into his face. A smile tugged up at the corner of her mouth.
"Was that what you wanted to talk to me about?" she asked with a chuckle in her voice.
One corner of his lips curved up and his eyes fixed on her mouth. "Close enough. Thank you for coming here with me."
"You're welcome, but you don't need to thank me. I never thought of doing anything else."
Benjamin kissed her again quickly before freeing Jewell from his hold. "You look tired."
As if spurred by his statement, Jewell stifled a yawn behind her fingers. "I guess so."
Benjamin's fingers touched her cheek. "I have some people I want to see and some things I need to look into. No need for you to come. Why don't you go back upstairs and lie down?"
"Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Go on back up and get some rest. I want you bright and chipper this afternoon."
